A MOTORING enthusiast keen to support Bentley Motors' return to Le Mans for the first time in 71 years is driving his family's vintage Bentley to France for the race this weekend.

James Wallace, of Lammas Court, Wolston, was due to set off today in the 79-year-old car - believed to be the third oldest Bentley in the world - to watch the 24-hour classic French car race at Le Mans on Saturday.

He is being accompanied by his 70-year-old uncle, William Henderson, a blacksmith from Scotland, who owns the car.

Mr Wallace, aged 45, who has taken his own Coventry-made TR6 and Standard 8 to Le Mans in past years, said: "My uncle has had this Bentley ever since I can remember and it's always been my dream to get behind the wheel and drive to Le Mans.

"This seemed like a fantastic opportunity because Bentley will be back in the race for the first time in decades. Maybe it'll encourage Coventry's Jaguar to take part again, too."

He added: "A car like this has to be driven. There's no point leaving it on display because it looks so much prettier on the road. It's incredible to drive because it has all the elegance and style of the 1920s."

The duo will have clocked up more than 1,000 miles by the time the three-litre car returns to its home in Scotland next week, travelling at just 45mph, compared with the 200mph-plus capability of the two modern EXP Speed 8s that Bentley will be entering in the race.

Mr Wallace, who has been to Le Mans 18 times before, said: "The event is addictive - once you've been, you have to go every year. It's an incredible atmosphere."

He is hoping for an uneventful trip but, just in case, is having to take his own tools, including spanners manufactured in the 1920s especially for the car, because many modern tools will not work on the vehicle if it was to break down.